Thoughts & Blogs

Yesterday I had the privilege of playing the organ for services at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury, MD. This is the second time this month I have had the opportunity to accompany a choir that I had only just met. 45 minutes before the service began I sat down at the piano in front of a small group of complete strangers. First names were quickly exchanged and just as quickly forgotten. Still, I felt so comfortable in this situation, it was as if I had known them for some time. I warmed them up by having them softly sing a familiar hymn and then rehearsed the two motets that their director had taught them. They were fine singers that needed no help from me other than my keyboard work and a nod or two of my head. And so I was able to listen and marvel at this group of singers. Singing in the choir is an extraordinary experience. Unlike solo singing, voices combine in beautiful teamwork, they contribute to a consummate sound that fills space with something uniquely human and nearly divine, something beautiful that wasn’t there a moment before. Group singing creates harmony. Voices are similar to single blossoms or even buds that when combined with other flowers create breathtaking arrangements. And also similar to flowers, a single voice doesn’t have to be perfect to fit into the arrangement. A short piece of florist’s wire can correct a bent stem, and a little coaching on the shape of a vowel sound can alter the pitch and timbre just so. Science says that singing in a choir releases endorphins and reduces stress. Perhaps that's so. But I’m convinced that singing in a choir contributes to the betterment of all involved. Singers enjoy fellowship, camaraderie, purpose. Audiences are ennobled, satisfied, even inspired. And in my experience from yesterday, after one hour of music and worship, strangers left as friends. - WRT

Why blog? What do I blog about? The thought of recording my ideas, feelings, opinions intimidates and overwhelms me. Where do I start and who would be interested in reading what I think? The answer to the former is this is where I start, and the latter, perhaps the same friends I would be talking with or perhaps no one at all. I express my ideas in front of classrooms on a nearly daily basis. True, those ideas are mostly based on music literature from centuries ago but I constantly try to help my students connect that with the present. And maybe I can do that here too. Well, here goes nothing. I'll start with one of my favorite topics: listening and concentrating. A student asked me once how I can experience joy or wonder at all by listening to the same Haydn symphony countless times over a period of years or a lifetime. My answer was simple, there is a significant difference between hearing that symphony and listening to it. We all experience listening constantly, even in our sleep we are hearing sounds, why else are we woken by a thunderstorm? That Haydn symphony has thousands of notes in it and I have heard every one of them. But it is only when I am able to achieve a state of concentration that I actually listen to them. And that's something that will take the rest of my life to accomplish. In the meanwhile, I will enjoy hearing those notes again and again. How much else is there in life that we have experienced on a superficial level but have yet to fully appreciate? Think of beautiful scenes in nature, a great film or book, or even a good joke. How much better the world will be when we take the time to concentrate and practice the art of listening. WRT